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Thursday, January 26, 2012

Gussets on Parade! The Finished Wiggle Dress

So, when I wrote about gussets a week or so back, you all seemed pretty intrigued. But were you intrigued enough to want to see pictures of my armpits?

That is the question.

Anyway, here is the finished dress. See how the kimono sleeves fit closely, thanks to our friend gussets?

I designed this dress pattern. It is directly inspired by a certain Mad Men character; I'm sure you can't guess which one. I suppose I can tell you now that the pattern will be in my book. So I hope you like it!

This version is made from Harris tweed, the real stuff. It has such interesting depth of color. In some pictures it looks purple; in others, it's red. It's fully lined and very comfortable to wear.

140 comments:

I've been going through Mad Men withdrawal and started watching Season 2 last night while sewing. This dress definitely reminds me of a certain character. In this ep she was wearing that beautiful red dress that's shown up a few times. Your dress definitely reminds me of this. You look stunning in it. And those gussets.... I had no idea.... I may need to try these out!

Woah, I'm loving it! Harris Tweed is the best, but can be scratchy - great to have it lined. Inspired to put red shoes with that colour. I made a dress out of a similair coloured wool - it's a great shade. Am now so hungry for your book - do you have a publication date yet?

Your dress is Fabulous! I'd already made up my mind to buy your book, without seeing any content. I was sure anything you published would be amazing, and this sneak peek proves me right. I can't wait until it's published. :) Great job, Gertie!

You never fail to amaze, your dress is simply stunning - the colour is fabulous on you as is the shape and fit.You look so great normally. But this dress is a real jaw dropper on you. Clever you, wish I was a quarter as talented xxxxxxx

Oh it's beautiful Gertie and the fit is just perfect, it's very, very flattering. All the time I was reading the post I kept hoping you were going to name the pattern, I couldn't believe my eyes when you said the pattern would be in your book.....!! I can't WAIT for it to be published now. Fabulous job. x

I rarely comment, but I love this. That is just about my favorite color to wear. I'm also not that into sewing books (the internet is usually enough of a resource for me) but I cannot wait for yours! I love looking at vintage patterns on the internet but I never buy them. I'm so excited to buy your book and have an instant collect vintage-inspired patterns!

That is one gorgeous dress! I'm so pleased it's included in the book, since as soon as I saw the back of the dress and read that you designed the pattern yourself, I immediately thought "please be in the book, please be in the book". :)

Gertie Hirsch, you little potato bug! How classy is that dress? And the gussets are divine. Thanks for showing us the finished details on a living, breathing, moving human body. All the technique in the world is useless unless you can comfortably wear the finished garment. You are an inspiration to a new generation of sewists, for which I salute you. (I thought I would die at my sewing machine, alone and unloved, never to be able to converse with someone else who enjoyed sewing. Glad that ain't gonna be so.) Got to love a tweed that reads several colors -- especially when you have to amortize the cost by getting multiple wears for multiple years.

Oh it's just darling! You look positively delicious in this! The gussets are completely magical and such a revelation. Love them! This makes your book even more of a staple! I have to have it! Give me a wiggle dress! Yay!xoxo

Sizes for the new book? I was afraid I wouldn't fit into any of the Collette book patterns, so I opted out. I know I could probably grade up a size or two, but I really couldn't see me in any of those designs.

I love everything about this dress - design, color, etc. I'll definitely get your book just for that!And I and am still so thankful for the armpit gusset tutorial; I'm doing a short turquoise wool jacket soon that will require this bit of help! Lovely job.

Yowza! That's definitely a wiggle dress complete with fitted armpits! Although I think underarm gussets are ugly and distract from the overall construction flow of many garments (in that they're not long, curvy lines), they do keep the silhouette of said garments pleasing. A big, baggy underarm sleeve with that dress would definitely detract from the rest of the garment. I can't wait to see it in your book!

smoking hot! What an awesome dress and it suits you! sigh,that is the joy of custom fashion.I love the sleeves, love the gusset( not a phrase I ever expected to type in any way, shape or form) and I am sooooo looking forward to this book of yours. you SO own this look!

The book will be worth the price for that pattern alone. I don't always buy the books created by my favorite bloggers--not enough interesting information that I haven't already seen, or the patterns aren't very interesting. The advance peeks at yours suggest LOADS of terrific material!

OMG!!! That is literally the dress pattern I've always dreamed about. Also, it looks incredible on you! You did such an amazing job! Plus, I love your fabric choice! I was super excited about your book before, but now I just can't wait until fall. Even if I didn't already know it would be amazing cover to cover (which I do) I would buy it just for this pattern alone.

The fit is perfect! I've a few blouse and dress patterns from the 50's that use gussets and they really do give a great fit. You have done an great job on the pattern, simple and classic and I love that you have used princess seams for the bodice :-)

I love the dress too. It is really flattering - you look great in it. I can't wait for your book to come out so I can make one of my own! I love the gussets! I wasn't exactly sure what gussets were but now I can't wait to try making my own! You are an inspiration

Harris tweed for Mrs Harris! It's absolutely beautiful, Gertie, and you look stunning in it. I'm not usually a fan of princess seams - they can sometimes look a bit too late 1960s mod for my taste - but on this dress they really work, so I'm converted. Gorgeous!

I love your dress, and really pleased I found your blog, i'm in the process of making a vintage wedding dress which has gussets well sort of anyway there not under the arm pit but part of the shaping in the top/side, to see your instructions on doing them was great and would help next time, must admit I found them difficult to do but they are not to bad for a first attempt as I have found out vintage patterns dont really explain what you should do. Looking forward to your book too.

Wow! Your dress looks gorgeous and you look stunning in it! I'd love to be able to design my own pattern! Your gusset tutorial was fab and its great to see it in the flesh! Looking forward to seeing more of your projects! http://thesecondhandrose.blogspot.com/ XxxX

I ordered your book for many reasons, but number 1 is for this pattern. I am foaming at the mouth basically. Would you recommend it in a double knit? I would love to make it as a nicer work dress and I think the double knit could do that, if the pattern works well with it.